Monday, 4 July 2011

Sorry again for the long wait. I have just been really busy, plus our internet is not working like it should be which doesnt help. But I have been cooking!

This is the 'Apple and Walnut Cake' from Nigella Lawson'sHow To Be A Domestic Goddess. Except after making all sort of substitutions I had really made Anna del Conte's Torta di mele. But what's for certain is that the cake is absolutely delicious! Doesnt really come across in the picture, but trust me, it was lovely. This is an excellent way of using up apples past their best. The way I made it:100 g raisins boiled in 75 ml water until water has evaporated (drain though in any case!)150 ml vegetable oil200 g caster sugar2 eggs350 g plain flour1 tsp cinnamon1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda1/2 tsp cream of tartar1/2 tsp salt450 g apples, peeled, cored and cut into small cubesZest of 1 lemon

20 cm springform cake tin, buttered and floured.

Preheat oven to 180'C/Gas 4.

Beat oil and sugar together with an electric mixer, then add the eggs one by one. Fold in dry ingredients with a metal spoon, then stir in apples, lemon zest and raisins. This will be quite a stiff batter. Spoon into prepared tin and smooth the top and bake for 1 hour. Do check towards the end. Let the cake stand in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring to wire rack. Lovely eaten that day, but even nicer the next!

This spinach risotto is yet another recipe from Ursula Ferrigno's Truly Italian and yet again it was yummy!

Roast Chicken with Sumac, Za'atar and lemon.

This recipe came from Ottolenghi, the cookbook. Very nice book (very very nice baking chapter should you be interested!). Flavourful dish, although we felt it could have done with some sort of sauce.